Pages

My blog has been changed to make it more appealing for those who have New England ancestors and want to see the area through photos. Things I’ll include are typical white New England churches, libraries showing their genealogical collection, historical societies, cemeteries, war memorials, in general, anything to do with history.

For four years I’ve blogged mostly about my personal genealogy in New England (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire), New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. I still will, can’t forget my own roots.

Please check out the labels on the right side for articles. The header tabs at the top are a work in progress.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

What do you do when all you have a partial clipping of a newspaper article? Did I ever have the entire article, or who sent it to me, both questions are unknown. All I know is I received in in 2006, and it was from The Lincoln Star, September 20, 1933. Apparently, a Mr. Schrambling was hit and killed by a car driven by Mr. Walton C. Roberts. His daughter's name, Mrs. Agnes Sagenuk of Soulin, Montana was of no help to me. So what did I do?

By doing a google search, using the key words, Schrambling and Lincoln provided a really great clue. FindAGrave came up with a William Schrambling, even though I didn't know his first name, this person was buried in Lincoln, Nebraska and died on September 19, 1933, just the day before the newspaper article was printed. There were no other Schramblings listed in the town, but I expected that, since the article said he was in the town for three weeks. There was no birth date, nor a cemetery photo.

The article stated his daughter was Mrs. Agnes Sage and Mrs. Eli Sage. Google searches brought up a nice, unsourced, family group sheet. Not only does it list her father as Washington Scrambling, instead of William, but had his parents, both of whom I had in my tree.

The next thing I thought of was, fellow blogger, Susan Petersen of Long Lost Relatives who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

TheLincoln Star newspaper stated his name as William W. Scrambling for the county court filings notification.

William Schrambling, 85, an inmate of the county farm was injured fatally when he stepped into the path of an automobile driven by Walton G. Roberts, 1515 L Street, about 7 o’clock Tuesday evening, while walking on the highway near the farm, about seven miles north of here.

County attorney, Max Towle, announced Wednesday morning that no inquest will be held in the death.

The injured man was brought to the LincolnGeneralHospital and died a few minutes after, death probably caused by a concussion of the brain. He suffered a fractured left leg, fractures of the skull and numerous lacerations about the head. Medical attention was given by Dr. R. H. Sawyer.

Mr. Schrambling with Albert Tulley, another county inmate, was talking toward Lincoln on the west side of the road. Mr. Roberts and his wife, driving north, saw the men approaching and slowed down, he stated. Just as he came even with the men, he said Schrambling suddenly appeared in front of his car. He swerved in an attempt to avoid an impact, but the car had already struck the aged man.

­It seemed that Schrambling apparently became excited and ran directly into the car after being safely on one side of the grade, according to information obtained by Deputy County Sheriff C. A. Hughart who investigated the accident. Tulley told officials that he tried vainly to pull Schrambling out of the way.

Mr. Schrambling has been at the farm about three weeks this fall, said Mrs. W. W. Scofield, farm matron. He spent the summer on a farm east of Lincoln. He was cared for at the farm last winter after being discovered living in a boxlike hut in an old building excavation at Ninth and O streets.

He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Agnes Sagenuk of Soulian, Mont. The body is at Roberts.”

In the photo above, Edna is on the left. Along with my parents, siblings and my grandfather. Earle Bishop. I took the picture.

When you least expect to get a lead, somebody leaves a message for you on FindAGrave. Mine came from Claudia, who wrote the following: "When I 'googled' Earle Bishop, I saw your flowers on his memorial. Mr. Bishop married my 1st cousin 2x removed, Edna May Smart.

I wonder if you have any information on the Smart family? And if so, could we collaborate on "Smart" information? If you don't, would you be able to steer me in the right direction? This side of my mother's family is a mystery to me and have been finding it difficult to find anyone who still has information on the family."

I was delighted, since Edna was my step-grandmother, the only grandmother I ever knew, so I wrote Claudia back with some information.

Her reply, "Sorry, I guess your grandfather marrying Edna May Smart didn't sit well with you? Was she a nice person? Can you tell me the story or anything about her because I don't know anything about the "Smart" side ... whatever you can tell me will shed some light on things. Also, if you have pictures of your Grandparents as well as Edna or others, and can send them to me, I would love to put them on their pages in my tree. I would love to hear about your grandmother Sarah, too!!

The only info I have on Edna is that in 1930, according to the census records, she was working as an office clerk in a bank and living at 162 Weldon Road, Berlin, CT; then sometime after 1930 she was married to a George Simmone and they had 1 child, a son they named George Simmone, Jr. But don't have any info on the husband and don't know if he died or if they divorced ... but then she married your Grandfather on July 25, 1953. I was only 3 yrs old at that time. She also had a brother Howard Frederick Smart. I have that she died on July 5, 1992, either CT or FL ... but don't know where she is buried.

My 85 yr old cousin, Shirley Baker, who lives in Stamford, CT had written to me one time that Edna's son's name was George J. Simmone. I scour the internet for information ... some days I get lucky, other days I don't. That's how I found Mr. Bishop's obit.

Well, it was very nice to hear back from you, Barbara ... thank you for responding. I would love to hear more about my 1st cousin, 2x removed, Edna May (Smart) Bishop."

Claudia and I have since shared information on the phone, I only wish she was related to me, because we had so much fun chatting.

She filled me in on Edna's family, and I did for her. There are things we don't know, such as where she was buried, and what happened to her son, but we are hoping clues will come soon.

Why am I posting all of this? Well, I am hoping there are other family members who will google any of the above names, just like we all do. I would like to help Claudia out, because I absolutely loved her cousin, Edna.

Edna deserves very much to be in my genealogy, and I am happy to have her genealogy. She became my step-grandmother when I was about 10. She was the sweetest person, always showed an interest in what I was doing, and insisted I go with them to NYC for a week, one summer, as they had an apartment there, Monday thru Friday. I saw everything a tourist would see, as well as a show at RadioCityMusic Hall. Through the years, it was she who always sent all the grandchildren a birthday card with money, and a personal note. She wrote lovely letters, and I still have one or two. I also liked that she introduced me to candy at age 11! My grandfather was so happy and they shared a great love of music and travel, in that they traveled the world several times, and lived part-time either in London or Florida. What a great step-grandmother, I was lucky to have Edna in my life for 30 years.

To Receive My Blog Posts by Email

You may search this Blog using Key Words.

About Me

I've been a retired, quiet, genealogy fanatic for 23 years. It's a hobby I do for fun and to help others.
Why not use the Search My Blog feature (directly below) to put in some key words. If you wish to contact me, please write at: Barbara.trees4u@gmail.com.